27-05-2025
Noblesville and its 'incredibly impressive' offense dethrone defending 4A state champion
FISHERS — The Noblesville softball team typically likes to show up early for games, especially when they're at home. But there were conflicting reports (briefly, at least) as to how early the Millers were for Monday's Class 4A Sectional 8 opener vs. Hamilton Southeastern.
"We got here kind of around normal game time," Brookelyn Grayson said.
"We pulled in before 4," teammate Addi Emmerson quickly corrected.
"Oh, we did?" Grayson replied, before explaining that, yes, the Millers were in fact very early for their first state tournament game.
"We got here and the other team was nowhere to be found. 'Are we here too early? Are we at the right spot?'" the senior infielder laughed. "We normally get there early for games. … But yeah, we were definitely here earlier than normal."
More: Defense has carried Lapel softball. And the gloves were on point again Monday.
It's better to be ahead of schedule than behind it and Noblesville's unusually early arrival allowed the players to take their time warming up and gave them an opportunity to calm the pregame nerves.
The vibes were immaculate. Noblesville was ready. And when the first pitch was thrown, it set about executing its gameplan.
Facing arguably the state's top pitcher in Hamilton Southeastern junior Grace Swedarsky, the Millers looked to attack early in the count so as to avoid seeing her up-spin later in the at-bat.
Delaney Rundle ripped a lead-off triple on Swedarsky's third pitch of the game, then came around to score when Grayson doubled on the second pitch of her at-bat.
"After the first inning, I felt really hype for our team, just getting a run early," Grayson said following her 3-for-3, two RBI, two-run performance. "We only had one run (against her during the regular season), so that was huge."
Noblesville remained aggressive, and when the Royals scratched across runs in the second and fifth to tie, it unleashed a seven-run barrage in the bottom of the fifth, setting itself on course for a decisive 9-4 victory.
Seven of those runs came against Swedarsky, who allowed nine hits, issued one walk and struck out four. The Virginia Tech commit has allowed multiple runs in three of her 11 postseason starts (five shutouts). It's happened twice vs. Noblesville.
"Grace is a really fantastic pitcher, but we're also really good hitters here," Emmerson said.
The Millers spent the past few practices with the speed dialed up on the pitching machine to prepare for Swedarsky's speed and focused on laying off pitches up in the zone. Force her down in the zone, said catcher Maggie Kern, who initiated the fifth-inning rally with a bases-clearing double.
From there, approaches were more individualized.
Emmerson doubled on a pitch inside in the fourth, so her coaches told her to watch for an outside pitch. "I was like, 'OK, let's see it." The senior infielder took the first pitch then, as promised, Swedarsky went outside with her next pitch — and Emmerson launched it over the right-field wall for a two-run home run, her fifth of the season and third over the past four games.
"When I saw it go over, I was ecstatic," beamed Emmerson, who finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. "I'm never looking for a home run, but when they go over, I'm always OK with it."
Rundle finished with two hits, two walks and two runs scored; Izzy Zapp tallied two hits and a run scored and pitcher Addison Retzinger notched a hit, while also allowing just two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and seven walks over 6.2 innings.
Noblesville out-hit HSE, 11-4, and boasts a team season average of .365 with 25 homers and 39 doubles. It's averaging around eight runs per game, and has seven-plus in four straight games.
"Noblesville's always been an incredibly impressive offensive team," HSE coach Emily Pusti said. "Their bats are good. They've got really fast slappers. And their talent being really aggressive challenges the defense. … We got checked on that in the first inning, but our girls figured it out from there and improved. I'm so proud of them."
Noblesville advances to face Fishers on Tuesday.
